Professor Robert Field Reflects on FCC Net Neutrality Debate Proposal in the Philadelphia Business Journal

Professor Robert Field Reflects on FCC Net Neutrality Debate Proposal in the Philadelphia Business Journal

May 16, 2014

Professor Robert Field commented on the Net Neutrality debate in a May 16 Philadelphia Business Journalarticle about the Federal Communications Commission's decision to open Internet rules to public debate.

At the heart of the controversy is part of the FCC proposal which considers whether broadband providers can charge content providers, like Netflix, an extra fee to deliver their content through Internet "fast lanes," Field, who once worked as an FCC attorney, commented. Such a policy would leave the content carriers "no other choice but to pay it," Field said.

Commenting on the situation in a separate article featured on CBS Philly, Field said such rules begin to "create a risk that the Internet will not be as open as it has been. A risk that in order to reach viewers, you will have to pay extra to carriers to get the bandwidth that you need."

Also up for debate is whether broadband providers should be treated like utility providers under Title II of the Communications Act, Field told the Philadelphia Business Journal. Providers vehemently oppose such treatment because it would preclude them from getting involved in special deals, he added.